The Jedicole Universe

How do you get fans excited about the shared universe that is populated by hundreds of characters from the familiar to the obscure?  Well if you are  comic book publisher in the 80s, you create the definitive guide to (almost) every single character in the catalog.  And that is exactly what Marvel and DC (most famously) did with "Marvel Universe" and "Who's Who".  At least twice!  Discover these and more as Andrew Farmer and Cole Houston act as your guide to the universe guides of the past.

"Declaration of Independents" concludes in the best possible way, with a special guest!  Your hosts Andrew Farmer and Cole Houston discuss the history, publications, and fate of Akklaim Comics with none other than show favorite Weldon Adams.  Prepare for some incredible insights into what happened when a video game company set their sights on the successful comic book publisher Valiant Comics.

Hey Kids, Comics! is not going to call the whole thing off this week.  Quite the contrary!  Your hosts Andrew Farmer and Cole Houston are back from their holiday hiatus and ready to take a swing at examining one of the biggest successes in the "big indy" family - Comico ("The Comic Company").  Enjoy the next to the last chapter of Declaration of Indpendents and the tale of a company that started from unusual circumstances and eventually became another often forgotten imprint.

"Declaration of Independents" continues with a chapter that explores one of the more curious examples of the the little big indy and name recognition as a vehicle for success or failure.  When big egos collide and lawsuits fly, you have the tale of Defiant Comics with Andrew Farmer and Cole Houston taking up the challenge of chronicling the fate of this would-be innovator.  

Welcome to the second chapter of "Declaration of Independents.  This week Andrew Farmer and Cole Houston explore the rise and disappearance of Malibu Comics.  Among the more successful of the big indys of the 90s, Malibu's characters garnered Hollywood attention with live action and animated television series...then they were simply and quietly taken away from the public eye.  Find out how and so much more with this unique tale spun by your hosts.

A new story arc begins with Andrew Farmer and Cole Houston exploring the "Indy Boom" and some of the publishers that came and went in a time when comics were at the height of their powers.  Catherine Houston joins your hosts this issue as they discover that celebrity names were not enough for Tekno Comix, a corporate-style publisher with ambitions in the retail end of the industry.

The holidays fast approach and your Comic Shop Santas Andrew Farmer and Cole Houston yet again bring you the annual Hey Kids, Comics! Holiday Gift Guide!  Give a listen to some great Christmas present choices for the comic book fan in your life (or for yourself)!

After the heavy topic of "Joker" last week, Andrew Farmer and Cole Houston needed a bit of a change of pace and a more lighthearted topic.  Send in the Zoo Crew!  Yes, Captain Carrot and company are the subjects of the latest issue of the show with special guest Weldon Adams.  Yep!  As promised when Weldon was last on the show.

SPOILER ALERT!  If you have not yet seen "Joker" and want to avoid spoilers, listen to this issue another time.

As "Joker" rises to become the most financially successful movie based on a comic book in the height of the Tanzanite Age, Andrew Farmer and Cole Houston at last tackle the weighty subject of this unique take on Batman's greatest foe.  They are joined this week by none other than PJ "Vega Bomber" Dunn, host of Fui{FILM}ment and the annual Foscars.

The Hell?!  Three hundred thirty three regular issues of this show?!  With such a benchmark, and the inescapable joke it invokes, the denizens of Hell itself are the topic of this week's show.  Well, those that occur in comics anyway.  So get ready for some devilishly good conversation as Andrew Farmer and Cole Houston go all demon-like!